Channel Manager, Players' Association Programs

Campus Ink•Chicago, IL

10d•$55,000 - $65,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Channel Manager, Players' Association Programs owns the success of Campus Ink and The NIL Store's NBPA, MLBPA, and WNBPA programs across direct-to-consumer and wholesale channels. This is a brand-new vertical and its first dedicated owner. The role combines account management and marketing, taking projects from initial concept through live campaigns. It works with design, licensing, wholesale, and marketing teams, while serving as the day-to-day contact for players' association offices, athletes, agents, and influencers. The position is based in Chicago, Illinois, with a hybrid schedule requiring at least three in-office days per week. The role develops and executes annual and seasonal marketing strategy, owns and reports on revenue goals, and uses sales, traffic, conversion, and campaign data to guide investment. It leads product projects and release calendars, ensures products meet licensing approval requirements, supports wholesale sales with catalogs and sell-in materials, and plans direct-to-consumer campaigns. It also builds partner relationships and coordinates approvals, promotional commitments, and co-marketing. The company describes the vertical as a growth area and expects the role's team and scope to expand as it grows.

Requirements

2–3+ years of sports marketing experience at a brand, league, team, players' association, agency, or licensed merchandise company.
Ability to analyze sales and campaign data and make confident decisions based on it.
Experience taking projects from idea to launch across creative, product, and external partners.
Strong writing and storytelling skills.
A sharp eye for design and understanding of what makes fans stop scrolling.
Self-starter who thrives with ambiguity and wants to build something new.
Genuine love of sports and fluency in the NBA, MLB, and WNBA.

Responsibilities

Build and run annual and seasonal marketing strategy for NBPA, MLBPA, and WNBPA programs.
Own revenue goals for the vertical across direct-to-consumer and wholesale channels, and report progress to leadership.
Track sales, traffic, conversion, and campaign data weekly and use the findings to guide investment in players, products, and channels.
Identify timely opportunities such as milestones, playoff runs, and viral plays, and move quickly to bring products to market.
Lead projects from ideation through launch with art, design, and licensing teams.
Build product drop calendars around league seasons, drafts, and marquee events.
Ensure products meet players' association and university licensing approval requirements from concept through final art.
Keep the wholesale team supplied with fresh products timed to buyer calendars.
Create and maintain product catalogs, line sheets, and sell-in materials for retail partners.
Use sell-through and retailer insights to inform future products.
Plan and run direct-to-consumer campaigns across email, social, paid media, and site merchandising with the marketing team.
Tell players' stories by connecting their college roots to their professional careers.
Brief creative teams, approve assets, and maintain a high standard for visual design.
Serve as the main day-to-day contact for NBPA, MLBPA, and WNBPA offices.
Build relationships with athletes, agents, and influencers to support launches and content.
Coordinate approvals, promotional commitments, and co-marketing with each players' association.